The time you spend in the kitchen is most dependent on your skill level and the recipes you choose. But there are some things you can do to improve your preparation times that will save minutes; which add up to hours!
More Busy Cooks Quick Tips
- Make sure your kitchen is organized properly. Keep the utensils near your work surface; the pots and pans near the stove, and cleaning materials near the sink.
- Choose a recipe that has fewer ingredients. My 400 Five Ingredient Recipe Collection is a great place to start. Choose easier recipes; they are naturally faster to make.
- Read through the recipe carefully before you begin. Make sure you understand the terminology and steps, and be sure you have all the ingredients on hand.
- Look for pockets of time in each recipe. While the water is boiling to cook pasta, prepare vegetables. When the oven is preheating, thaw meat in the microwave and rub it with spices.
- Gather all the utensils and ingredients. Start with the steps that take the longest: start a pot of water boiling, preheat the oven, and start thawing frozen foods in the microwave oven.
- Keep the kitchen sink full of soapy water; as you work, toss used utensils, spoons, and whisks into the sink for easy cleanup.
- Keep distraction to a minimum! Pets and kids should not be underfoot while you're working.
- Work steadily, but don't force yourself. If you aren't an expert at chopping, go slow. It's better to develop a good method and naturally speed up than to force yourself and cut yourself.
- Have a multi-use timer on hand; use it to keep track of recipes that have several steps. Write which timer belongs to which steps on the recipe.
- Use shortcuts where you can. Bagged salad greens, prepared and frozen vegetables, pasta sauces and gravies, grated cheeses, refrigerated or frozen pasta, premarinated meats, refrigerator doughs, boxed stocks, prepared bread crumbs, and cut up veggies from a salad bar are all wonderful shortcuts.
- Keep favorite ingredients on hand in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. I always have dried pasta, pasta sauce, frozen chicken, frozen pasta, onions, garlic, eggs, Boboli pizza crusts, frozen meatballs, frozen peas, corn, and carrots, and olive oil on hand.
- And have fun. Enjoy the aromas, sounds, and feel of a great recipe coming together.
